Anatomy of a Fiction Scene
A well-crafted scene contains:
- Purpose: Each scene should advance plot, develop character, or reveal information
- Structure: Beginning (hook), middle (conflict/tension), end (resolution or cliffhanger)
- Elements: Setting, characters, conflict, dialogue, action, emotion
- POV: Consistent perspective controlling what information readers receive
- Pacing: Sentence structure and paragraph length controlling rhythm and tension
- Goal/Conflict: Character wants something but faces obstacles
- Change: Effective scenes shift something (character emotion, plot status, reader understanding)
- Sensory Details: Selective details that immerse readers in the moment
Scenes connect to create your story’s larger structure, with each contributing meaningfully to the whole.